Qatar celebrates emphatic victory over UAE in Asian Cup semi-final

Local Fans Show Their Displeasure as Qatar Beat UAE in Asian Cup Semi Final0:33

Qatar hammered hosts the United Arab Emirates 4-0 on January 29, to reach the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. And the hometown fans were none too happy – raining shoes and bottles down onto opposition players as they celebrated their second goal. Footage recorded at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi by Jordan Gardner shows security staff trying to calm things as Qatar players are pelted with objects from the crowd. An earlier video from Gardner set the hostile scene, with the visiting side’s anthem being roundly booed by UAE fans. The UAE, along with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, setting the scene for a grudge match between the sides. Credit: Jordan Gardner via Storyful

January 29th 2019

4 months ago

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TOPSHOT - Fans throw bottles and flip-flops at the pitch during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match between Qatar and UAE at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on January 29, 2019. (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)Source:AFP

Doha exploded in noisy celebration on Tuesday as jubilant Qataris flooded the streets and roads after their national team’s victory over bitter sporting and political rivals, United Arab Emirates.

Traffic along one of the city’s main highways, the Corniche, was jammed bumper-to-bumper with exultant fans celebrating the thumping 4-0 Asian Cup semi-final victory, many honking horns or waving Qatari flags from car roofs, and others showing four fingers to emphasise the emphatic victory.

Fans throw bottles and flip-flops at the pitch during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-final football match between Qatar and UAE. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Objects were thrown on to the pitch after the AFC Asian Cup semi final match between Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“I am so happy, of course, because now we will play in the final,” Abdul, 24, smoking a cigarette on the side of the road and watching the celebrations.

“But for us this match is better than the final, it’s revenge for everything bad they (the Emiratis) have said.

“They say we are not good people, we are terrorists. All Qataris are very happy.” His Syrian friend Hattim agreed.

“This is history. Qatar has God with it. Qatar always acts the right way,” he said.

Another Qatari celebrating on the roof of a nearby car said the result was much “sweeter” because of the opposition.

Qatari fans celebrate after their national team defeated UAE to qualify to the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Eager Indian sellers were quick to cash in on the celebrations, charging 100 Qatari Riyals (US$28) on the Corniche for giant flags.

Nearby, those who accidentally got caught up in the noisy celebrations held their hands over their ears as so many drivers blew their horns.

- ‘Qataris deserve it’ -

The political overtones of the last four match were impossible to ignore. The game took place against the backdrop of the continuing, Gulf Crisis, which has pitched Qatar against a group of neighbouring former allies, including UAE.

Qatari fans cheer after their national team defeated UAE to qualify to the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

That group of countries has boycotted Qatar for the past 19 months, accusing it of supporting terrorism, among other allegations, a charge which the 2022 World Cup host denies.

Immediately after the victory, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister took to Twitter to celebrate.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the foreign minster and one of the leading figures during the crisis, pointedly called the victory a “wonderful performance... with high sports ethics”, after the partisan UAE crowd pelted Qatar with shoes and booed the national anthem during the match.

Qatari fans celebrate after their national team defeated UAE to qualify to the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

The semi-final was watched by big crowds throughout Doha, including at a packed and noisy Souq Waqif, in central Doha, where a giant screen showed the match live.

There, Qataris, alongside hundreds of fans from other countries including Egypt, France, Jordan and Algeria, watched the match intently.

At first the crowd were nervously quiet but as Qatar’s dominance became apparent, fans become much noisier.

Qatari fans watch their national team play UAE in the semi-final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the Qatari capital Doha. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

Qataris danced through the halftime break with their team 2-0 in front, and in the second half cheered every block and tackle as “Al-Annabi (The Maroons)” fought to hold onto their lead.

There were special cheers every time cameras showed despondent Emirati fans and especially when UAE’s Ismail Ahmed was sent off.

The final whistle saw the start of wild celebrations in the Souq, with more music and dance.